ROME (AP) — The Vatican made another big overture to China on Tuesday, reaffirming the Catholic Church poses no threat to Beijing’s sovereignty and admitting that Western missionaries had made “errors” in past centuries in their zeal to convert the Chinese faithful. The Vatican hosted the head of China’s bishops conference for an unprecedented, high-level commemoration of a landmark 1924 meeting in Shanghai that affirmed the need for foreign missionaries in China to give way to local church leaders. The presence of Shanghai Bishop Joseph Shen Bin alongside the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, at the Pontifical Urbaniana University was in itself noteworthy. It marked the first time in memory that a mainland bishop has been allowed by Beijing to participate in a public Vatican event as the keynote speaker. It was also significant given the controversy over Shen’s 2023 appointment. Pope Francis in July was forced to recognize China’s unilateral appointment of Shen as bishop of Shanghai. The appointment seemingly violated the Holy See’s 2018 accord with Beijing over bishop appointments. |
The trial of a former Syrian general over alleged role in war crimes starts in StockholmTujia Woman Promotes Ethnic Culture Through Literature, SongsYang Xiaoyu: Boosting Museum's Role in Promoting China's Fine Traditional CultureYang Yang Set for ReZhang Guimei: Helping Impoverished Girls Improve Education, Changing Their FatesHelping Design China's First Large Passenger AircraftLu Shengmei: Fulfilling Pledge to Help Rural Residents Improve HealthPianist with a Poet's SoulHeadmistress Committed to Primary School Education for DecadesArtist Inherits, Promotes Kunqu Opera